Nothing evokes combined feelings fairly like a efficiency plug-in hybrid. At first, it looks like an ideal center floor between fuel and electrical. There’s easy, emissions-free driving for working round city, wide array and fast refueling for lengthy journeys, and large efficiency if you let the engine and motor work in tandem. 

The brand new Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid does provide all that. However, it’s not fairly so simple as having your cake and consuming it too.

Porsche facelifted the third-generation Cayenne for the 2024 mannequin 12 months, and the adjustments are in depth. For the plug-in hybrid fashions, the battery capability will increase from 14.1 kilowatt-hours to 25.9 kilowatt-hours, which brings a giant bump in electrical vary. The motor additionally will get a rise from 134 to 174 horsepower, and mixed with a revised twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8, the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid produces a ripping 729 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque. That’s greater than the previous Turbo S E-Hybrid. Greater than any combustion SUV on the market now, save the mechanically related Lamborghini Urus SE.

However there’s a worth to pay for this mixing of combustion and electrical energy—and never simply the steep $158,995 base worth of the 2025 mannequin (our tester was a 2024). Porsche quotes a curb weight of 5,719 kilos for this Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe. The Cayenne GTS Coupe, which makes use of the identical V-8 with out the hybrid system, weighs practically 700 kilos much less.

The entire thing is just a little absurd. Not simply the load determine by itself, I imply the entire thing. A luxurious SUV that nods towards effectivity and the necessity to cut back our environmental affect but in addition has a twin-turbo V-8 and weighs as a lot as two unique Boxsters. It’s simply a lot automobile.

Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1

Execs: Enormous Efficiency, Unimaginable Journey & Dealing with, Good Electrical Vary

The burden dominates every part. Admittedly, this Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid coupe handles its weight in addition to it could possibly, because of the non-compulsory rear-wheel steering and energetic anti-roll techniques. It’s freakishly agile and physique roll is saved to an absolute minimal if you put it into Sport Plus mode, the place the automobile lowers on its air springs and stiffens up its adaptive dampers. Via corners, this Cayenne doesn’t really feel its weight by any means. 

Steering is exact as you’d count on from a Porsche, however surprisingly gentle. And under 50 miles per hour, when the rear wheels are calibrated to show in the other way of the fronts, there’s this barely unnatural sense of the automobile castering round that takes a bit to get used to. 

Porsche revised the springs and dampers for all facelifted Cayenne fashions, and right here, they supply an uncanny-good unfold of sentimental, cushion-y trip high quality and sport-sedan-like dealing with. Even on the non-compulsory 22-inch wheels, huge bumps barely make a blip. Mainly, it rides and handles in a means that’s completely divorced from its enormous weight and tall trip peak.

Nonetheless, you’re at all times aware of the load below braking. Even slowing down at low speeds for a cease signal, you’ll be able to really feel all that mass shifting round beneath you. It by no means feels fairly proper. Additionally not serving to issues is the truth that the braking is inconsistent. It’s at all times a problem to mix regenerative braking from the motor and friction braking, particularly when you might have carbon-ceramic rotors, as our tester does. 

Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1

Cons: Huge Curb Weight, Costly, Poor Gas Financial system With Lifeless Battery

Coming to an entire cease round city, you at all times find yourself getting a bit extra braking than you need. The motor drives by means of the Cayenne’s eight-speed automated, so if you’re coming to a cease, the automobile has to steadiness motor regeneration with downshifts. You don’t really feel the shifts, however the sensation is much like aggressive engine braking. Making an attempt to be completely easy rolling to an intersection is an actual problem. 

Sometimes the hybrid system hiccups when getting up to the mark too, however when you’re going, it’s all very easy. The engine cuts out and in seamlessly, and the motor is at all times able to ship a wallop of torque.

It’s foolish fast, unsurprisingly. The electrical motor and engine mix to make the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid really feel prefer it’s obtained a supercharged Chevy V-8 below the hood. You go to go somebody on the freeway, and the eight-speed auto downshifts a gear, perhaps two, earlier than an countless surge of energy. Get on it arduous from a low gear, and it’s much more eye-opening. Efficiency like this was not way back unique to upper-echelon 911s.

Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1

This may be heretical to say, however it sounds higher than a variety of new 911s, too. As a part of the Light-weight Sports activities Bundle—a laughable line merchandise for a 5,700-pound automobile—you get a center-exit sports activities exhaust, and it’s raucous. Even in its quiet modes, there’s an ever-present burble from the V-8 and a muscle-car thunder with the valves absolutely open. It’s infantile and completely addictive. 

Nonetheless, the more durable you get on it, the extra gasoline you’re going to burn. Which is, after all, apparent, and usually not a priority in a hi-po SUV. However in just a little over every week with the automobile, I couldn’t cease enthusiastic about gasoline financial system. I imagined a guilt-free but highly effective V-8 expertise, and whereas the hybrid system can lower gasoline consumption, it doesn’t flip this Porsche right into a Prius.

As with all plug-in hybrids, it’s a must to cost it typically. Up to date Cayenne hybrids get an 11-kilowatt on-board AC charger, so when you’ve got the precise setup at residence, it is best to have the ability to get a full battery in round two and a half hours. And the vary is superb. The EPA says it’ll do 24 miles on a cost, however I frequently noticed figures nearer to 40 miles.

Should you’re driving round city slowly, you’ll get nice gasoline financial system. Hell, you’ll be able to go away the Cayenne in E-Energy mode and the V-8 won’t ever even activate till you get on the throttle arduous. Longer journeys at greater speeds are a combined bag, although. I drove the automobile 200 miles and again totally on the freeway, however with about 20 miles of gradual New York Metropolis site visitors. With a full battery, I managed practically 27 mpg in comparison with 22 mpg with round 1 / 4 of a battery. It’s not nothing! However, it’s nonetheless conspicuous consumption. 

Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1

Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1

In the end, you’re left with one thing that is the most effective of each worlds, and the worst of each worlds. Underneath the precise circumstances, you will get a giant effectivity profit from the hybrid system, however at different instances, it’s a variety of further weight to hold round.

Philosophically, the bottom Cayenne E-Hybrid and Cayenne S E-Hybrid most likely make extra sense, pairing a lighter, extra environment friendly V-6 with the identical battery and motor. However, the efficiency and speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick character typical of a Porsche Turbo is simple. I like this factor rather a lot, despite the fact that I additionally discover it completely ridiculous and suspect that it’s seemingly not fairly as satisfying as a pure fuel automobile, or a full EV. 

And this being a evaluate of a Porsche, we will’t finish earlier than speaking concerning the worth. It’s so damned costly. Notably, the bottom worth between this 2024 check automobile and the equal 2025 mannequin jumped from $153,050 to $163,945. The as-tested worth of this one rises from $191,230 to only below $200,000. You may skip a variety of the choices our tester has, just like the $9,070 carbon-ceramic brakes and the $10,700 Light-weight Sport Bundle (although it’s the solely method to get these superb houndstooth seats). Nonetheless, it’s a really costly automobile regardless of the way you slice it.

Picture by: Chris Perkins / Motor1

I suppose it’s pure for a sophisticated automobile to engender difficult emotions. Some moments, you find it irresistible. Others, you’re baffled by it. And sometimes, you’re left astonished by simply how foolish it’s. I type of need one, and I’m barely disturbed by that notion. 

Like I mentioned earlier, combined feelings.

Opponents

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Chris Perkins / Motor1

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